The Los Angeles Lakers’ ideal trade target may not be available for long. If Marc Stein’s reporting is accurate, Keon Ellis is expected to be moved before the deadline, and league sources view it as a near certainty. That puts pressure on teams like the Lakers that have been keeping an eye on him.
Stein wrote in The Stein Line that Ellis is one of the most likely players to be traded before Feb. 5. He added that multiple teams are already in pursuit and that one source close to the situation essentially described an Ellis trade as “inevitable.” When that kind of language starts circulating, it usually means conversations have moved past exploration.
Ellis is not the biggest name on the trade market, and his numbers will not convince you on their own. He is currently in his fourth season with Sacramento and has never held down a stable role. Ellis has crossed the 20-minute-per-game mark only once in his career.
This year, he is averaging just 5.5 points on inconsistent shooting (39.2 percent) in just over 17 minutes per night under Doug Christie, often sliding in and out of the rotation.
The defensive appeal the Lakers can’t ignore
Still, the appeal is easy to understand. Ellis is a young guard with size, mobility, and defensive instincts. He can be a lockdown defender, as he is gifted at forcing opposing guards to work for space. That alone would make him an upgrade for a Lakers team that has struggled to contain elite ball handlers all season.
Los Angeles also has an eye on the future. With Luka Doncic positioned as the new face of the franchise, the Lakers will need defenders who can take on difficult assignments, allowing him to focus on offense. Ellis fits that profile.
Right now, he is on a cheap deal and would likely be affordable to retain this summer. However, the complication, as always, is cost. The Lakers do not have many movable assets at the deadline.
Giving up a first-round pick for Ellis would be a risk, especially given his uneven production this season. But he has shown flashes in previous years, enough to suggest he could look very different in a defined role.
A more realistic offer likely involves Dalton Knecht and second-round draft compensation. Although Knecht has struggled this season, it is hard to ignore how last year’s rescinded trade may have shaken his confidence. He is still young and controllable and could appeal to a Sacramento team ready to reset.
If Stein’s reporting holds, the timeline is clear. Ellis is not expected to stay put, and teams that hesitate may find the opportunity gone before they realize it.